KR100474893B1 - heat pump system using thermal electric module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, and more particularly, to heat and heat the reaction heat of the thermoelectric module to the working fluid and to flow the working fluid by capillary pressure to perform cooling and heating.

To this end, the present invention is the thermoelectric module 10 is an exothermic reaction occurs on one side and the endothermic reaction occurs on the other side; It is installed in close contact with the same reaction surface of the thermoelectric module, the inside of the porous wick 22 (wick) of the capillary structure to change the working fluid in the liquid phase to steam by capillary pressure is installed in the vapor state A heat pipe apparatus 20 for exchanging a working fluid of the thermoelectric module with a capillary pressure; A heat exchanger 30 for exchanging heat with the outside air as the working fluid discharged from the heat pipe device is introduced; It provides a cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module comprising a: a storage unit 40 for storing the working fluid discharged from the heat exchanger and only flowing the working fluid in a liquid state into the heat pipe device.

Description

Heating and cooling system using thermoelectric module {heat pump system using thermal electric module}

The present invention relates to a cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, and more particularly, to a cooling and heating system for exchanging heat of reaction of a thermoelectric module with a working fluid and flowing the working fluid by capillary pressure.

The general cooling system condenses the hot working fluid compressed in the compressor in the condenser, expands the condensed working fluid in the expansion valve and then sends it to the evaporator. The air is brought into thermal contact with the evaporator to cool the indoor space by discharging cold air into the room.

Recently, a thermoelectric module is used for a heating and cooling system and a cold storage system. The thermoelectric module is an apparatus that generates an exothermic reaction on one side and an endothermic reaction on the other side as power is supplied.

The thermoelectric module using this principle is provided with P-type semiconductors and N-type semiconductors arranged electrically alternately between two ceramic plates, and electrically connects the P-type semiconductors and the N-type semiconductors, as well as the P-type semiconductors and the like. Electrical cross-connection layers such as copper are provided to connect both ends of the N-type semiconductor to each ceramic plate. In this case, the cross connection layer is connected to a DC power source so that current flows alternately along the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor connected to the cross connection layer.

Accordingly, the electron (-) and the hole (+) are moved from one ceramic plate toward the other ceramic plate through the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor, respectively, so that one ceramic plate absorbs heat and the other ceramic plate Heat is released.

In addition, if the direction of the current is changed by changing the polarity of the electricity connected to the thermoelectric module, it can be understood that heat can be released from one ceramic plate to the other ceramic plate to switch the heat absorbing portion and the heat dissipating portion, as opposed to the above-described phenomenon. Do.

The heat dissipation fin is installed on the thermoelectric module and the heat dissipation fin is contacted with a heat transfer medium such as air or a refrigerant to use the heat generated by the thermoelectric module.

However, the method of using the heat radiation fin to use the heat generated by the thermoelectric module has a low heat exchange efficiency and the exothermic reaction surface and the endothermic reaction surface should be attached, so if the thermoelectric module is used for a long time, the reaction efficiency is increased due to mutual heat transfer. Degrades. In addition, the thermoelectric module may be damaged by forming a steep temperature gradient inside the thermoelectric module.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to heat exchange the working fluid by a thermoelectric module and to flow the working fluid by capillary pressure.

In order to achieve the above object, the first embodiment according to the present invention is a thermoelectric module that generates an exothermic reaction on one side and an endothermic reaction on the other side when power is applied; It is installed to be in close contact with the same reaction surface of the thermoelectric module, and a porous wick which is a capillary structure is installed in the inside so as to phase change the working fluid in the liquid state into steam by capillary pressure. A heat pipe apparatus for exchanging heat with the thermoelectric module and flowing by capillary pressure; A heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with outside air as the working fluid discharged from the heat pipe apparatus flows in; It provides a cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module comprising a storage unit: for storing the working fluid discharged from the heat exchanger and flowing only the working fluid in the liquid state into the heat pipe device.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, an exothermic reaction occurs on one surface and an endothermic reaction occurs on the other surface when power is applied; One end is installed on the exothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module, and a wick which is a capillary structure is installed therein to allow the working fluid in the fluid state to circulate as the fluid passes through the wick by capillary pressure. A heat pipe having a heat conductive plate of heat conductive material installed on an exothermic reaction surface of the module, and one end of which is inserted into the heat conductive plate; It is provided in close contact with the other end of the heat pipe is provided with a heat exchange member that is heated by receiving the heat of the working fluid heated by the thermoelectric module: provides a heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module.

The present invention is to cool the indoor space by allowing the working fluid heat exchanged by the thermoelectric module to flow by using a heat pipe device or a heat pipe with a capillary structure and heat exchange the working fluid and the outside air through the heat exchanger.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a cooling and heating system using the thermoelectric module of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a cooling and heating system using the thermoelectric module of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe apparatus in Figure 1, Figure 3 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure and the circulating direction of the working fluid in the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe apparatus in the cooling and heating system of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation structure of the wick and the channel in the heat pipe apparatus of FIG.

1 and 2, the air conditioning system includes a thermoelectric module 10, a heat pipe device 20, a heat exchanger 30, and a storage 40.

The thermoelectric module 10 is a device in which N, P-type semiconductors are installed between the insulators, and an exothermic reaction occurs on one surface and an endothermic reaction occurs on the other surface by a peltier effect when power is applied.

The thermoelectric module 10 is provided with a plurality so that the same reaction surface is in close contact with the heat pipe device (20).

This is to install the same reaction surface to heat or cool the working fluid flowing into the heat pipe device 20 because the endothermic reaction and the exothermic reaction occur at the same time on both sides of the thermoelectric module 10.

The thermoelectric module 10 may be installed according to the cooling and heating capacity of the product applied to the air conditioning system.

The heat dissipation fins 24 are installed on the outer surface of the thermoelectric module 10 to exchange heat with the outside air. At this time, the heat dissipation fins 24 are formed with a plurality of plate-like fins to be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the thermoelectric module 10.

By installing a blowing means outside the heat dissipation fins 24, the heat transferred to the cooling fins may be in thermal contact with the outside air, thereby reducing the temperature difference between both sides of the thermoelectric module 10.

On the other hand, the heat pipe device 20 is installed in close contact with the endothermic reaction surface or the exothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module 10, the capillary tube to change the working fluid in the liquid phase to a vapor state by the capillary pressure therein Porous wick 22 (wick), which is a structure, is installed to heat exchange the working fluid in the vapor state with the thermoelectric module 10 and flow by capillary pressure.

To this end, the heat pipe apparatus 20 has a plurality of tubular hollow parts are formed therein as shown in Figure 3 and the main body 21 is connected to each of the flow path tube at both ends of the hollow portion, and tubular so as to have a smaller diameter than the hollow portion Is formed of a wick 22 is inserted into the hollow portion is installed. At this time, the wick 22 has a shape in which one end portion 60a is connected to the working fluid inflow side flow pipe and the other end portion 60b is closed.

In addition, the heat dissipation fins 24 are installed on the outer surface of the thermoelectric module 10 to reduce the temperature difference generated on both sides of the thermoelectric module 10 by exchanging heat with the outside air.

In the heat pipe device 20 installed as described above, the wick 22 and the working fluid inflow side flow path communicate with each other, and the space surrounded by the outer circumferential surface of the wick 22 and the inner surface of the space part communicates with the working fluid discharge side flow path tube.

Therefore, the working fluid introduced into the wick 22 through the inflow-side flow pipe is vaporized while passing through the wick 22 by capillary pressure, and the vaporized working fluid flows into the outer circumferential surface of the wick 22 and the inner surface of the space part. It flows into the enclosed space and is then discharged to the discharge side flow path tube. As a result, the working fluid can be flowed by the capillary pressure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the heat pipe device 20 has a plurality of elongated stripe-shaped protrusions formed along the longitudinal direction of the hollow portion on the inner surface of the hollow portion, and a wick 22 is installed in the hollow portion. As a result, a plurality of channels 23 surrounded by the protrusion and the outer circumferential surface of the wick 22 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the hollow part.

Thus, by forming the channel 23 along the longitudinal direction of the hollow portion between the inner surface of the space portion and the outer peripheral surface of the wick 22 to further improve the capillary pressure of the working fluid.

The main body 21 of the heat pipe apparatus 20 is formed in a plate shape so as to install the thermoelectric module 10 more closely. In addition, the main body 21 is preferably made of a thermally conductive material to facilitate the transfer of the reaction heat of the thermoelectric module 10 to the working fluid. The thermally conductive material is lightweight and has excellent thermal conductivity while providing low cost aluminum.

This is because the air-conditioning system can be applied to a small product such as a relatively small and lightweight portable air conditioner and the like, it is preferable to use a lightweight material as much as possible for convenience of transportation and movement.

The working fluid heated or cooled as described above is introduced into the heat exchanger 30 to exchange heat with the outside air to perform a cooling and heating function.

The heat exchanger 30 is a plurality of stacked plate-shaped heat conduction fins 31, and bent in a zigzag through the heat conduction fins 31 to transfer the heat of the working fluid to the heat conduction fins 31 ( A fin-tube 32 type heat exchanger 30 consisting of 32 is applied.

The fin-tube 32 type heat exchanger 30 is superior in terms of heat efficiency compared to the heat exchanger 30 manufactured by attaching the heat dissipation fins 24 directly to the thermoelectric module 10 as in the prior art.

The blowing fan 33 is installed near the heat exchanger 30 to help improve the heat exchange efficiency with the outside air.

In addition, by installing the storage unit 40 in the flow pipe between the heat exchanger 30 and the heat pipe device 20, only the working fluid in the liquid state is supplied to the heat pipe device 20.

This is because when the working fluid in the gaseous state flows into the wick 22, the gas working fluid does not pass through the wick 22 by the action of capillary pressure, and thus the working fluid cannot flow.

As an example, the endothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module 10 is installed in close contact with both surfaces of the heat pipe apparatus 20 according to the operation of the first embodiment of the cooling and heating system using the thermoelectric module 10 having such a structure. Let's explain.

As power is applied to the thermoelectric module 10, the thermoelectric module 10 generates an endothermic reaction on the surface in contact with the heat pipe device 20 and an exothermic reaction on the opposite surface.

In addition, when the polarity of electricity connected to the thermoelectric module 10 is changed to change the direction of the current, heat may be released from one ceramic plate to the other ceramic plate to switch the endothermic reaction surface and the exothermic reaction surface.

At this time, a working fluid in a liquid state flows into the wick 22 of the heat pipe apparatus 20 through the flow pipe as shown in FIG. 3, and the working fluid opens the wick 22 by the capillary pressure. As it passes, it phase changes into steam and this working fluid flows along the channel 23. The working fluid flowing through the channel 23 is deprived of heat by the main body 21 of the heat pipe apparatus 20, and the cooled working fluid is discharged to the discharge-side flow pipe.

Thus, the working fluid discharged to the flow path pipe is introduced into the heat exchanger 30, where the working fluid is heated while cooling the heat conduction fin 31.

At this time, as the blower fan 33 installed near the heat exchanger 30 is operated, the outside air is cooled by the heat conductive fins 31 of the heat exchanger 30 to be discharged into the indoor space.

The working fluid passing through the heat exchanger 30 is introduced into the storage part 40 in a two-phase mixture of gas and liquid, and the storage part 40 is a heat pipe device of only the working fluid in a liquid state among the working fluids. 20).

In such a cooling and heating system, when the polarity of electricity connected to the thermoelectric module 10 is changed to change the direction of current, the cooling and heating function may be performed by switching the endothermic reaction surface and the exothermic reaction surface as opposed to the above-described phenomenon. .

Of course, depending on whether to discharge the heat exchanged air from the fin-tube 32 type heat exchanger 30 to the indoor space or to discharge the air heat exchanged with the thermoelectric module 10 to the indoor space may be used in a cooler or a heater. .

As described above, the present invention does not need to install a separate power unit such as a compressor to flow the working fluid as in the prior art by flowing the working fluid by the capillary pressure.

Since the power unit is not used in this way, the vibration and noise in the system can be reduced, thereby making it possible to manufacture low vibration and low noise air conditioning system.

In addition, the cooling and heating system can increase the efficiency of the system by reducing the temperature difference between both sides of the thermoelectric module (10).

Next, a second embodiment of a cooling and heating system using the thermoelectric module will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of a heating and cooling system using the thermoelectric module of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the heat pipe of FIG. 5 and a circulation direction of a working fluid.

Referring to FIG. 5, the air conditioning system includes a thermoelectric module 51, a heat pipe 60, and a heat exchange member 71.

One end portion 60a of the heat pipe 60 is installed on the exothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module 51. The heat pipe 60 has a wick 61, which is a capillary structure, installed therein and flows inside the wick. As the working fluid in the liquid state passes through the wick by capillary pressure, it is circulated as shown by the arrow of FIG. 6.

In this case, a heat conduction plate 52 made of a thermally conductive material is installed on the exothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module 51, and one end 60a of the heat pipe 60 is inserted into the heat conduction plate 52.

Accordingly, the heat of reaction of the thermoelectric module 51 may be better transmitted to the working fluid circulating the heat pipe 60.

A heat exchange member 71 is installed at the other end 60b of the heat pipe 60 so that the heat of the working fluid heated at one end 60a of the heat pipe 60 is more easily provided to the heat exchange member 71. To be delivered.

In this case, the heat exchange member 71 is made of a thermally conductive material, and the other end portion 60b of the heat pipe 60 is inserted into the heat exchange member 71.

Meanwhile, the heat pipe 60 is formed in a tubular shape to have a pipe in which a working fluid flows therein and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, and the wick 61 installed to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the pipe by a predetermined interval. Is made of.

The heat pipe 60 is installed to be inclined such that one end portion 60a of the thermoelectric module 51 side is higher than the other end portion 60b of the heat exchange member 71 side. This is to smooth the flow of the working fluid circulated in the heat pipe (60).

In addition, the thermoelectric module 51 and the heat exchange member 71 are provided with heat dissipation fins 53 and 72, and the structure of the heat dissipation fins 53 and 72 is the same as described above in the first embodiment.

At this time, the heat exchange member 71 and the heat dissipation fins 72 is made of a thermally conductive material, it can be understood that it can be formed integrally.

The heat dissipation fans 54 and 73 are installed near the thermoelectric module 10 and the heat exchanger 30 to help heat exchange with the outside air.

Referring to the operation of the second embodiment of the air-conditioning system using a thermoelectric module having such a structure as follows.

When power is applied to the thermoelectric module 10, an exothermic reaction occurs on one surface of the thermoelectric module 10, and an endothermic reaction occurs on the other surface.

Since the heat conduction plate 52 is installed in close contact with the exothermic reaction surface, the heat conduction plate is heated as heat is conducted to the heat conduction plate.

At this time, the working fluid in a liquid state flows to the heat conduction plate 52 side in the wick 22 of the heat pipe 60, and the working fluid passes through the wick 22 and becomes a gaseous state to heat the heat conducting plate. Will be absorbed.

The gas working fluid is moved to the heat exchange member 71 in a space formed by the outer circumferential surface of the wick 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the pipe to transfer heat to the heat exchange member 71.

As such, the liquid working fluid flowing inside the wick 22 becomes steam while passing through the wick 22, and the steam is caused to flow toward the heat exchange member 71, by the heat radiating fans 54 and 73. By discharging the discharged air into the room to perform a cooling function or a heating function.

In this case, the cooling function depends on whether the air heat exchanged with the heat dissipation fins 53 attached to the thermoelectric module 51 is discharged to the room or the air heat exchanged with the heat dissipation fins 72 attached to the heat exchange member 71 is discharged to the room. Or it can be done to perform the heating function.

As described above, the air-conditioning system using the thermoelectric module of the present invention can reduce noise or vibration because a separate power device is not used to circulate the working fluid.

As described above, the present invention does not need to use a separate power unit to circulate the working fluid, so that it was possible to manufacture a low noise low vibration air conditioner.

Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a compact and lightweight air conditioner.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a cooling and heating system using the present invention thermoelectric module.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe apparatus in the heating and cooling system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure and the circulating direction of the working fluid in the longitudinal direction of the heat pipe apparatus in the cooling and heating system of Figure 1;

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the installation structure of the wick and the channel in the heat pipe apparatus of FIG.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of a cooling and heating system using the present invention thermoelectric module.

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the heat pipe of FIG. 5 and a circulation direction of a working fluid;

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: thermoelectric module 20: heat pipe device

21: body 22: week

23: channel 24: heat dissipation fin

25: heat radiating fan 30: heat exchanger

31: heat conduction pin 32: tube

33: blower fan 40: storage unit

Claims (17)

A thermoelectric module in which exothermic reactions occur on one surface and an endothermic reaction occurs on the other surface when power is applied; It is installed to be in close contact with the same reaction surface of the thermoelectric module, and a porous wick which is a capillary structure is installed in the inside so as to phase change the working fluid in the liquid state into steam by capillary pressure. A heat pipe apparatus for exchanging heat with the thermoelectric module and flowing by capillary pressure; A heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with outside air as the working fluid discharged from the heat pipe apparatus flows in; And a storage unit for storing the working fluid discharged from the heat exchanger and introducing only the working fluid in a liquid state into the heat pipe device. delete The method of claim 1, Cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the heat radiation fin is installed on the outer surface of the thermoelectric module. The method of claim 1, The heat pipe device is: A plurality of tubular hollow portions are formed therein, and main bodies each having a flow path tube connected to both ends of the hollow portion; The thermoelectric module is formed in a tubular shape so as to have a diameter smaller than the hollow portion is inserted into the hollow portion, the one end is connected to the working fluid inlet side flow pipe and the other end has a closed shape: Heating and cooling system. The method of claim 4, wherein The heat pipe device has a plurality of elongated strip-shaped protrusions formed along the longitudinal direction of the hollow portion on the inner surface of the hollow portion, and the plurality of channels surrounded by the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion and the wick as the wick is installed on the length of the hollow portion Heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that formed along the direction. The method of claim 4, wherein The body of the heat pipe device is formed in a plate shape, the thermoelectric module is a heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the same reaction surface is attached to both sides of the heat pipe device. The method of claim 4, wherein The body of the heat pipe device is a heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that made of a thermally conductive material. The method of claim 1, The heat exchanger is: Plate-type heat conduction pins are installed so that a plurality of stacked; A working fluid flows therein, and a tube is installed to be bent in a zigzag through the heat conduction pin to transfer the heat of the working fluid to the heat conduction pin: a cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that consisting of. The method of claim 1, Cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the blower fan is installed near the heat exchanger and heat pipe device. A thermoelectric module in which exothermic reactions occur on one surface and an endothermic reaction occurs on the other surface when power is applied; One end is installed on the exothermic reaction surface of the thermoelectric module, and a wick which is a capillary structure is installed therein to allow the working fluid in the fluid state to circulate as the fluid passes through the wick by capillary pressure. A heat pipe having a heat conductive plate made of a thermally conductive material, and having one end inserted into the heat conductive plate; And a heat exchange member installed in close contact with the other end of the heat pipe and being heated by receiving heat of the working fluid heated by the thermoelectric module. delete The method of claim 10, The heat exchange member is made of a thermally conductive material, the heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the other end of the heat pipe is inserted. The method of claim 10, The heat pipe is: A tubular pipe having a working fluid introduced therein; It is formed in a tubular shape to have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe, the inner and outer circumference of the pipe is installed to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval: the heating and cooling system using a thermoelectric module characterized in that consisting of. The method of claim 10, The heat pipe is a heating and cooling system characterized in that the inclined so that one end of the thermoelectric module side is higher than the other end of the heat exchange member side. The method of claim 10, Cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the heat dissipation fins are respectively installed in the thermoelectric module and the heat exchange member. The method of claim 15, Cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the heat exchange member and the heat radiation fins are integrally formed. The method of claim 10, Cooling and heating system using a thermoelectric module, characterized in that the heat dissipation fan is installed on one surface of the endothermic reaction surface and the heat exchange member of the thermoelectric module.